Canberra Raiders winger Reece Robinson could miss as many as five weeks with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone, which will require surgery to insert a metal plate.
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It could be a double-blow for the Raiders, with Robinson's potential replacement, Jack Wighton, on report for a dangerous throw from Saturday night's Under 20s match.
As reported in The Canberra Times, the Raiders were considering thrusting 19-year-old Wighton into the NRL to make his debut against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night. The exciting Raiders rookie will find out this afternoon if he will be charged for the lifting tackle.
The Raiders are stretched for depth in the outside backs, although rugby convert Dimitri Pelo shapes as the most likely replacement for Robinson if Wighton is unavailable due to suspension.
The Raiders also signed former Manly winger Michael Bani, but he is unlikely to be considered because of his late arrival to pre-season and questions over his fitness.
The other option is for the Raiders to reshuffle their backline and bring bench forward Joel Thompson in to the centres, shifting Jarrod Croker to the wing.
